I used to sulk when I was dropped says hat-trick hero Sharp

BILLY SHARP hit his first hattrick for 10 years on his recall and then admitted he would have sulked in his younger days over being axed.

The Blades skipper led the charge back to the top of the Championship after boss Chris Wilder gave him a breather for last Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Stoke.

But it was Sharp by name and sharp by nature against Wigan – and he needed little prompting to recall his previous treble, which was in the second of his three spells at Bramall Lane.

The striker, 32, said: “It was here against QPR when I was in my 20s so I’ve rolled back the years.

“I had a few chances when I was at Scunthorpe but never quite got it. So it was nice to get on the end of things and see them go in the net.

“We’ve got a big squad here at the moment – there are some very good players who aren’t getting on the bench and it’s hard for them at times.

“But they’ve all been fantastic, supporting the lads who are playing, pushing each other, and I think that’s why the standards on the pitch are so high.

“When I was younger I would have been frustrated and probably sulked a bit when I wasn’t playing.

“But I’m the captain and I have to set an example.

“The gaffer spoke to me and I knew I was playing this time. You’ve just got REF: to keep your head and support the team.”

Sharp, who now has 11 goals this season, has grown into the captaincy.

He said: “I used to set a target of 20 goals every season which, looking back, was probably selfish. If you’re not scoring goals you have to make sure you’re doing other things for the team.

“It comes from the top, the gaffer and his coaching staff. They gave me the responsibility and it’s a lot easier than I thought it was going to be when I first started. “When I first got the armband, we didn’t win for five games!

“Since the gaffer came here we’ve come on as a club and we’re just trying to get one step further now, which is obviously the hardest step.”

Sharp went to work after Wigan ATT: midfielder Kai Naismith had levelled defender Chey Dunkley’s own-goal opener. Latics striker Joe Garner added a consolation.

Wigan boss Paul Cook reckons there is no better side than United in the Championship, and Blades boss Wilder said: “Paul is not one for the bright lights and getting carried away. It’s a great compliment from him because all his sides play excellent football.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Cook, whose side host Leeds next.

He said: “Lucky, aren’t we? And then we go to Middlesbrough!” SHEFFIELD UNITED:

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